mains

noun — 4 senses

mains

noun

UK /meɪnz/

1

UK The domestic electrical power supply, especially as connected to a network or grid.

I plugged it into the mains and it blew up!
We don't have mains power out here, only a generator.

1 more example

mains electricity, mains voltage

2

UK A large-scale network or grid supplying any of various other services, such as water, gas or sewerage, to properties.

We have gas heating, but it's bottled gas, not mains gas.
The properties formerly relied on a well, but are now connected to the mains water supply.

3

The main course of a meal.

Derived terms: mainsborne, mains hum
Related terms: water main

mains

noun

Etymology Related to manse.

1

Scotland The farm attached to a mansion house.

Though no minister would visit the Skerburnfoot, or, if he went, departed quicker than he came, the girl Ailie attended regular at the catechising at the mains of Sker.1902, John Buchan, The Outgoing of the Tide:

Derived terms: Davidson's Mains

Entry derived from the Wiktionary, under licence CC BY-SA 4.0 — list of authors.